Apostolic Admonitions III ~ Receive the Lord's Workers: Philippians 2:24-30, especially vs. 29: "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem."
St. Paul sent his letter to the Philippian Christians by the hands of Epaphroditus, a messenger from the congregation and a man he freely called "my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier...the one who ministered to my need" (vs. 25). In the letter, the Apostle admonished the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus and esteem workers like him (vs. 29), men of loyalty (vs. 25), compassion (vs. 26), and self-sacrifice (vs. 30).
Beloved of the Lord, let us likewise heed the Apostle's counsel and receive and esteem such workers as Epaphroditus - all those loyal and faithful servants who carry out their labors for the Lord day in and day out, week by week, year after year. Consider Epaphroditus: he bore the monetary gift of the Philippian congregation, exhausting himself in travel on foot, coming all the way from the middle of northern Greece to the Adriatic, there crossing by ferry to Brundisium (Brindisi) on the east coast of the "heel" of Italy, and thence continuing across and up the Italian peninsula to Rome. Thus he "ministered"to St. Paul's "need"(vs. 25), and very concretely.
Often the Lord's most loyal and dutiful servants or handmaids are overlooked, taken for granted, because they minister quietly, without calling attention to themselves. From your own experience, recall someone you know who can be counted among the "overlooked": a young mother regularly at Divine Liturgy with her children, all of them scrubbed, dressed, and obviously taught to remain respectful and worshipful before the Lord, the honest shopkeeper who stands behind his goods, services, and his customers' needs, the Pastor who night and day is available to all who call for his prayers, counsel, and support in crises, the retired man who oversees the altar servers, encouraging and scheduling them, the ladies who prepare and clean the Church for all Liturgies, weddings, and funerals, or the secretary who types the Bishop's papers, answers his ‘routine' mail, and helps with a myriad of details as he travels about the diocese. Do you see that not all of these persons are fulfilling tasks usually considered ‘church work,' and that yet, each is serving the Lord in whatever position God has placed him in life?
Let us also receive and esteem those who are compassionate, as was Epaphroditus. Although, "because for the work of Christ he came close to death not regarding his life to supply what was lacking" to the Apostle Paul (vs. 30), yet having learned that his fellow Christians in Philippi were concerned for him because they "heard that he was sick," this good courier longed for them and was distressed that they were worried for him (vs. 26). God bless the Pastors who weekly hear the confessions of their people, share Christ’s love, and send penitents away "having no further care" for the sins they have confessed. Further, may the Lord bless those Christians who quietly console, listen, bring a dish of food to a mercy meal, or smile as needed.
Finally, responding to Epaphroditus' example, let us receive and esteem those who willingly extend themselves for others - at risk of life and limb, or their health, or their own financial resources - the self-giving saints of God. Recall the beloved Deacon Philip Gilbert of Hobart, Indiana. He was injured in a wrecked ambulance while serving as a paramedic. Paralyzed, he nevertheless instructed relief workers in the details of tending to the other victims. Only after he was sure that every one else was cared for, only then did he tell those at the scene what he knew about his own injuries. All through the long months following the accident before he lost his battle for life, this good man continued first to consider others around him.
O ye holy saints, who have fought the good fight and kept the Faith, pray for us!